Vionna Wai, 30, and her husband, Chucky Hui, 29, were living in a one-bedroom apartment with their cats for two years when the pandemic caused them to rethink their living arrangements and consider moving closer to their families.

Wai, a construction engineer, and Hui, a UX designer, were living in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y., and paying roughly $1,500 a month in rent at the time. “We realized that after everything that was going on, what was important to us was family,” Wai tells CNBC Make It. “It was a core value for us. It was very hard during the pandemic for us to be away from my parents and his parents.”

Reflecting on the common desire to leave home at a young age, Wai notes, “I think for a lot of people when they hit 18 years old, they want to leave the nest, but what they don’t realize in that moment is that there’s just so little time we have left with our parents once we become adults.”

When the lease was up on the couple’s apartment, Hui’s parents knew about a two-family house in Bensonhurst that was available for rent. The neighborhood is deeper into Brooklyn and more residential than areas like Williamsburg and Greenpoint, which are trendier and closer to Manhattan. “I like being in a suburb environment but also having the benefits and access of being in the city,” Wai says.

The location also affords the couple and their in-laws below-average rent costs. The average size for a Brooklyn apartment is 660 square feet, and the average monthly rent is $3,558, according to RentCafe.

The couple has lived with Hui’s parents since 2020 and aren’t looking back. “We get to live in a bigger space, and we can have more financial stability,” Wai says. “Plus, we get to have a support system close by, and that is very important, especially during the pandemic.”

The total monthly rent for the 1,792-square-foot house is $3,500. The couple pays $1,600 a month to live in the one-bedroom, one-bath apartment on the second floor, while Wai’s in-laws pay $1,900 and live on the first floor, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. In addition to splitting the rent, the couple shares the $80 monthly Wi-Fi bill with Hui’s parents.

Despite paying more in rent now than they did when they lived alone, Wai says it’s worth it because one of the best perks of living with Hui’s parents is that her father-in-law cooks for them almost every night. “He loves doing that, and we love having home-cooked meals. It’s one of the things we missed the most when we lived on our own,” she says. “It used to be just the two of us eating at the dinner table and now we get to eat with family and have that connection again.”

Being in Bensonhurst means the couple is also close to Wai’s parents. “We see them so often and spend time together as a family, which is nice and convenient,” Wai says.

In addition to home-cooked meals, Wai and Hui also share cuttings from the 150 plants they have around their apartment. “My father-in-law has his own collection of plants and we trade cuttings a lot of the time.” Wai’s father-in-law enjoys growing orchids and teaches her his tips and tricks since it’s a plant she admits she is not good at growing. “He’s also into gardening in the backyard and then uses the food he grows to make dinner for all of us,” Wai says.

Four years into this living arrangement, Wai says the couple’s ultimate goal is to have a place where her parents can live with them, too. “Right now, we’re saving, and if there’s an opportunity for us to all live together with my parents as well, that would be the dream,” Wai says. In the meantime, the couple and their in-laws plan to renew their current lease this coming August.

But there is one thing Hui’s parents aren’t looking forward to dealing with more of: their son walking down the house’s stairs, Wai says, laughing. “My husband is a pretty heavy walker, so you can hear him going down the stairs, and my father-in-law is always asking him to be quieter,” she says. “We always blame it on the cats now.”

This living arrangement has not only strengthened their family bonds but also provided financial stability and emotional support during uncertain times. Wai and Hui's experience reflects a growing trend among young couples reconsidering their priorities and finding new ways to connect with family while navigating the challenges of modern living.

Moreover, the arrangement has created a harmonious environment where both couples and in-laws benefit from mutual support. Wai and Hui’s parents provide valuable assistance, which is especially appreciated during busy workdays. The proximity has also allowed the families to cultivate a shared lifestyle, enjoying communal activities such as gardening and sharing plant cuttings.

Their living situation highlights the benefits of multigenerational households, which can offer economic advantages, emotional security, and a deeper sense of community. Wai and Hui’s story underscores a shift in cultural norms, with more young adults valuing close family ties and seeking ways to integrate their lives with those of their parents. This trend may continue to grow as more people recognize the importance of family connections and the practical benefits of living near loved ones.